Reunion shows are exciting, but nerve-wracking. At first, you’re all excited: “OMG!!!! THEY’RE TOURING AND COMING TO MY CITY? My inner-teenager is squealing!” But then some doubts set in: “Will they be the same and as great as they were?” “What if they don’t play such and such song?” “What if I find out I don’t like them anymore?” It’s a lot of pressure for both the artist and the fan hidden under the guise of a “special musical treat.” 
So when Pavement announced their 2010 reunion, the chain reaction set in: “OMG! Excited!” to “OMG, what if they’re not as good?” But, fret not. After the venue lights went down at the Uptown and the decorative string lights strewn across the stage came on, Pavement triumphantly took the stage and played a flawless set for Kansas City. It maybe even trumped their performances from their heyday.
There wasn’t really any awkward tension or any attitude that they were just doing this for the money. Instead, there was a genuine feeling that this was for the fans. If the quality of the performance was enough evidence for this, then consider exhibits b and c: (b) front man Stephen Malkmus donned a local jersey for the Chiefs (who won their opening game, woot! that jersey must have been lucky) and (c) the set list pretty much consisted of every Pavement song you could hope to hear. There were very few people disappointed in the song choices.
Because Pavement was trying to fit in as many songs from their catalog as possible, there wasn’t very much banter inbetween songs. A few basic, “thank you” and one quip about Malkmus almost taking out some of the string lights when he lifted his guitar above his head, but this was really a show that delivered song after song with perfect execution. The guitar riffs were breathtaking, the vocals spot on and the fans loved every minute of it. The time off did not hurt these guys as they’ve only gotten better.
Pavement’s openers were equally fun. Poison Control Center switched off vocal duties and enhanced their brand of rock with brass elements. Though their songs were unfamiliar, they didn’t have a problem drawing the audience in with easy to clap and singalong sections. Then there were the stunts. The guys would tumble, while playing the guitar and one guy even performed one guitar solo, while doing the splits the entire time. They’ll be back in KC in October headlining at the RecordBar. If this set was any indication, it will be a show you won’t want to miss.
Set List:
Gold Soundz
Rattled by the Rush
Starlings in the Slipstream
Date with Ikea
Shandy Lane
Frontwards
Heckler Spray/In the Mouth a Desert
Unfair
Spit on a Stranger
Stereo
Loretta’s Scars
Conduit for Sale
Shoot the Singer
Silence Kit
Trigger Cut
Grounded
Perfume-V
Cut Your Hair
Stop Breathin
Box Elder
Fight This Generation
Debris Slide
Kennel District
///
Here
Lions (Linden)
We Dance
Range Life/Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da
